. Muslims allege marginalization
. Say institution had no Muslim VC in 72 years of existence
As the University of Ibadan (U.I) advances in its process of electing a new Vice Chancellor, some stakeholders in the institution have registered their displeasure about an alleged manipulation of the procedure to marginalise the Muslim candidates in the contest.
Already no fewer than nine eminent scholars and administrators are interested in succeeding the outgoing V.C, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka.
Olayinka’s tenure will officially come to an end on the 31st of November, 2020.
SlyNews investigations revealed that the nine candidates that are eligible for the post include: Former Director Institute of African studies, Faculty of Art, Prof. Dele Olayiwola; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Admin, Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science; Former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Professor Adeyinka Abideen Aderinto; Former Dean, Faculty of Arts, Professor Remi Raji-Oyelade of the Department of English; Former Dean, Faculty of Law, Professor Oluyemisi Adefunke Bamgbose; Provost of College of Medicine, Professor Emiola Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa; Immediate past Chief Medical Director (CMD), University College Hospital (UCH), Professor Temitope Alonge; Professor George Olusegun Ademowo of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic, Faculty of Basic Medical Science; Professor Tal-hatu Kolapo Hamzat, A Professor of Neurological Physiotherapy, University of Ibadan.
Stakeholders in the institution, who spoke to SlyNews said the management should ensure that merit is given priority in the quest for a helmsman.
A source in the institution said: “I will only plead that meritocracy is considered against those who want to turn the race into ethnic and religious matter.
“The VC that U.I needs now must be a competent, reliable, independent, trustworthy and an statute administrator. Not someone who will get there on religious or ethnic affiliations. Merit should be the priority,” the source stated.
Also, the Concerned Islamic Rights Group raised concerns about the uncertainty of who becomes the new Vice Chancellor of the premier university.
The Concerned Muslim Group in a petition obtained by SlyNews said: ”What is strange in the current process is the deep involvement of the outgoing VC. He has deliberately promoted ethnicity and religion in the contest. Several clannish groups have started addressing press conferences to drum support for their ethnic origins. The most delicate one is the campaign along religious affiliations”.
“The e-voting strategy is being manipulated by the VC to garner advantage for his preferred candidate, the current Deputy VC Administration”.
“There was an election to select congregation representatives at Senate and the results were quite astonishing. Out of a list of 152, only 2 are Muslims. The plan to oppress Muslims and prevent any of the Muslim candidates especially Professor Adeyinka Abideen Aderinto from occupying the VC seat was perfected through the e- voting manipulation to produce a pre-determined result.
“The manipulated and predetermined e-voting result in the university has clandestinely eliminated Muslims from the highest academic body where important decisions are taken”
“We think and believe that this should interest all lovers of justice and equal rights. This was never the case before and has never been so in the University of Ibadan, but the current powers that be have vowed to suppress Islam and Muslims. This has the potential for throwing up inter religious crises which had long been suppressed in the university”
“It is on record that most of the supporters of the outgoing VC in 2015 were Muslims. They supported him even against a strong Muslim contender. Sadly however, the ongoing process in UI has been conceived to favor a particular candidate.
“We are hereby calling on the Federal Government to intervene now as a matter of urgency before crises break out”
“The congregation election should be investigated and set aside. The VC should be prevented from using the electronic voting for the remaining election because it is no longer trustworthy and credible,” it stated.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the institution, Tunji Oladejo said: ‘The process is still on going, you can monitor the news from our University and our website,”
The e-voting was held on Tuesday, 28 July, 2020, while the results for the congregation representatives on senate, boards and committees election (2020) as displayed on the school’s website indicated that Omobowale Temidayo Olutayo scored 753, Dr. Olutosin A. Awolude had 413 and Dr. Afolashade A. Adewumi posts 370.
The vice chancellors of the institution since 1947 include: Kenneth Mellanby (Principal) – 1947 to 1953; J. T. Saunders (Principal) – 1953 to 1956; J. H. Parry (Principal) – 1956 to 1960; Kenneth Dike (Principal/Vice Chancellor) – 1960 to 1967; Thomas Adeoye Lambo – 1968 to 1971; Orishejolomi Thomas – Dec 1972 to Nov 1975; Tekena Tamuno – Dec 1975 to Nov 1979; Samson Olajuwon Kokumo Olayide – Dec 1979 to Nov 1983 and Ladipo Ayodeji Banjo (acting) – Nov 1983 to Nov 1984.
Others are: Ladipo Ayodeji Banjo – Dec 1984 – Nov 1991; Allen B. O. O. Oyediran – Dec 1991 to Nov 1995; Oladosu A. Ojengbede (acting) – Dec 1995 to Mar 1996; Omoniyi O. Adewoye – Mar 1996 to Sept 2000; Olufunso O. Olorunsogo (acting) – Mar 2000 to Sept 2000; Ayodele O. Falase – Sept 2000 to Mar 2004; Olufemi Bamiro (acting) – Mar 2004 to Nov 2005; Olufemi Bamiro – Dec 2005 to Nov 2010; Isaac Folorunso Adewole – Dec 2010 to Nov 2015; Abel Idowu Olayinka – Dec 2015 to present.
The University of Ibadan is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within University of London. It became an independent university in 1963 and is the oldest degree awarding institution in Nigeria.
